Tafsir of Al-Anfal 8:45-46

{And when you encounter a faction} Meaning: When you fight a group of disbelievers. He omitted describing them because the believers would only encounter disbelievers. "Encounter" (liqa') is a term predominantly used for fighting.

{Then stand firm} Against fighting them, and do not flee.

{And remember Allah much} In the arenas of war, seeking support through His remembrance, asking for His aid against your enemy—saying: "O Allah, forsake them; O Allah, cut off their roots."

{That you may succeed} That you may attain your objective of victory and reward. This contains an indication that the servant should not slacken in the remembrance of his Lord, even when his heart is most preoccupied and his anxiety is at its peak; his soul should be gathered for that, even if it is distracted from all else. Sufficient for you as evidence are the sermons of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) during the days of Siffin and his encounters with the rebels and the Kharijites—in their eloquence, clarity, subtle meanings, and profound exhortations—proving that no matter how grave the situation, nothing could distract them from the remembrance of Allah.

{And do not dispute} (Read with a tashdid on the ta').

{Lest you lose heart} It is in the accusative case due to an implied an (that), or in the jussive case because it falls under the ruling of the prohibition. Both interpretations are supported by the reading of those who read "And your wind (rih) shall depart" with a ta' and the accusative, and those who read it with a ya' and the jussive.

"Wind" (rih) here means power/sovereignty (dawla). It is likened to the wind in its penetration and flow of command. It is said, "So-and-so’s winds have blown," when power has turned in his favor and his command is executed. From this is the poet’s saying: O my companions, is there no one in the valley Except for 'Ubayd, sitting among the camels? Do you wait a little for their moment of heedlessness, Or shall you charge? For the wind belongs to the attacker.

It is also said: There was never a victory except by a wind that Allah Almighty sends. In the Hadith: "I was granted victory by the East wind (al-saba), and 'Ad was destroyed by the West wind (al-dabur)."

{And do not be like those who left their homes boastfully and to be seen by the people, and they avert [others] from the way of Allah. And Allah is encompassing of what they do.}